This explosive drama confronts mental illness while blasting open the world of grunge-era teenagers.

NO ALTERNATIVE: A Feature Film

We recently completed an Indiegogo Campaign for the film, through which we raised over $50,000. It helped us through pre-production and production. But, we aren't done. This second campaign is meant to build on the momentum we've gained and help us complete the post-production process. We need your support! *Contributions of $25+ entitles you to a complimentary ebook of "No Alternative" the novel.

"No Alternative" is a coming-of-age drama about suburban American teenagers in the early 90s. Thomas Harrison is determined to start his own alternative band after the suicide of Kurt Cobain—it's an obsession that blinds him to what's either the mental collapse, or the eruption of musical genius, of his little sister, Bridget. Bridget boldly rejects her brother's music, and the music of an entire generation of slackers, by taking on the persona of a gangsta' rapper named "Bri Da B."

My name is William Dickerson, and I'm a filmmaker and author. I've been making films for as long as I can remember, I went to the American Film Institute, and my first feature film, "Detour," was released in 2013. I've gained a reputation for being able to make "microbudget" films look like "muchbiggerbudget" ones, and that's exactly what I'm planning to do with "No Alternative."

It's almost impossible to get Hollywood to fund something that's not a thriller, or a horror movie, or a comic book movie—they rarely ever fund coming-of-age films.

Generally speaking, Hollywood isn't funding indie films anymore—there are just tent-poles (studio movies made for 150 million and up) and microbudgets (movies made for under a million, often far less than a million). For filmmakers like me, crowdfunding is a necessity; it's how indie movies are made now.

The middle class space of filmmaking has disappeared. I'm hoping to help rebuild it, one movie at a time—but, right now, I can only do it with the help of contributors like you.

The character of "Bri Da B" is inspired by my sister, who for most of her life suffered from mental illness. One of the ways she was able to cope and enjoy life was through rapping. When the character of Bridget becomes "Bri Da B," that transformation into someone else helps lessen the pain she is feeling in her life.

I have always thought of "No Alternative" as a love letter to my sister, a plea for her survival. That's why I originally wrote the novel this film is based on. I wish I could tell you that plea was successful. But, I can't. The majority of my sister's life was a battle fought against borderline personality disorder, drug addiction and suicidal behavior. A battle she ultimately succumbed to on July 1, 2014.

While she lost her battle, I'm hopeful we can win the war—and we can do it in honor of her and other sufferers like her.

The issue of mental illness needs to be destigmatized. Men and women of all ages suffer silently, struggling with mental illness, addiction and suicidal tendencies on a daily basis. Strides have been made, but as a culture and a society, we aren't open enough to talk about it in an effective way. "No Alternative" seeks to destigmatize the struggles of people who suffer.

The campaign for "No Alternative" is officially being sponsored by From the Heart Productions, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that supports films that make a contribution to society. By contributing to this film, you are not only helping other socially conscious films get made, but your donation is also tax-deductible.

The script is no longer enough to prove you can make the movie. Hence: the "Proof-of-Concept" film. Here is a scene from "No Alternative," which has been fashioned into a short to provide an example of the look and of the film and demonstrate its viability and potential on the screen.

Please give what you can, because every dollar counts. The more we can raise, the higher quality we can achieve—each cent matters. Here is the breakdown of the budget:

Contributors like you will make this movie a reality! The film has been shot and the footage looks incredible. We are halfway there and need your help to bring us to the finish line.

Thanks for checking out the campaign and supporting "No Alternative."

The spirit of "No Alternative" is DIY—do-it-yourself, punk rock, an ethos I truly believe in. But I can't make this movie alone—I need your help to make it.

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